September 1994
I had gone to New Delhi on some personal work, and in that connection I had a talk with the Union Minister for Welfare Mr. Thangabalu, and found out from him that with regards to projects of non-governmental voluntary organisations, involved in welfare activities, the Central Government gives aid for various projects to the extent of 70%. I am putting this before you as to whether we in Madras could avail of such aid from the Central Government. The catch however, is that the voluntary organisation must complete 3 years of functioning.
I am sure our Newsletter will give you a pictorial view of things at Madras and I am happy to inform you that the Rs.l lakh had been cleared somewhere in the middle of May, and after that we organised our “EDUCATIONAL AID PROGRAMME” on the 4th of June 1994. The Chief Guest for the function was Dr. John Joseph, and at this function we distributed educational aid to the extent of nearly Rs.35,000. The basis for selection of students to qualify for this aid was that their parents should be drawing an income of Rs.1000 and below, and the basis of allotment was:
STD. I – IV – Rs.125/- per child
STD. V – IX – Rs.l_50/- per child
STD. X – XII – Rs.175/- per child
Apart from this broad slab, those children who are destitute, poor and having no source of income, we gave the entire amount of fees payable by them. We had also given a donation of Rs.5000 to the CSI School for the Deaf at Mylapore and about Rs.4000 to St. George’s Orphanage. We will be sending you photographs of this function, and you will get an idea of the recipients of aid and participants in this function.
I must also inform you that in regard to our project of setting up a Destitute Home, we have approached the Madras Cemeteries Board to allot some land in the closed cemeteries in Madras. There is a closed cemetery in the Purasawalkam area that has quite a lot of land. We have sent an official letter asking them if they could lease out some land to us for setting up a Destitute Home. This subject will be discussed on the 28th June and then we will have some information on that which I would be communicating to you.
While I shall be sending you a Project Report about this Destitute Home, I would like to find out from you if we could go ahead with this Project. I am just wondering if we could go in for our own building or rent a large house where we could start in a modest way of taking care of 25 destitute children. Anyway, I am leaving the proposal in your hands and look forward to your advice, help and support.
Looking forward to your help, support and co-operation.
With kind regards.
Prof G.K. FRANCIS – Secretary & Treasurer
